RE-EMPLOYMENT OF WORKERS BEYOND 62 YEARS OF AGE

RE-EMPLOYMENT OF WORKERS BEYOND 62 YEARS OF AGE

24.

Mdm Ho Geok Choo asked the Minister for Manpower (a) what plan will the Ministry put in place to track the re-employment of workers beyond 62 years of age; and (b) what is the Ministry’s ultimate target for successful accomplishment of this plan.

Dr Ng Eng Hen: To ensure that older workers stay employed longer, it will require the concerted efforts of workers supported by unions, employers and the Government. Workers must remain productive through skills upgrading or be willing to take on different jobs. Companies should recognise the global shortage of skilled labour and change their work processes to extend the employability of older workers. They should also develop systems to re-deploy older workers when they reach retirement.

The Government will assist workers by making training more accessible and affordable. Initiatives such as the ADVANTAGE! Scheme provide funding and consultancy expertise to help companies re-engineer their work processes. The Tripartite Committee headed by my Minister of State Gan Kim Yong will continue its work for another five years including monitoring the progress made in implementing such initiatives to meet the medium term target of achieving an employment rate of 65% for residents aged 55 to 64.

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